Brian Kelly has been the Head Coach at Notre Dame for a decade now, and depending on who you ask, the results have been a mixed bag. Kelly has brought Notre Dame back into the national spotlight. He has compiled a 62-35 record, along with a BCS championship and playoff appearance. However, when it comes to the big stage, Kelly’s teams have disappointed. They got the doors blown off them in both their championship and playoff appearances. When the lights dim on Sanford Stadium this Saturday, Kelly and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are playing for much more than a win. The pride of the program might be on the line.
The Boys From South Bend are more prepared for this stage than they have been in years. They are anchored by a talented defense that is rife with veteran leaders. They also have Ian Book under center, one of the most accurate Quarterbacks in the nation. In their two games so far against Louisville and New Mexico, they showed the flashes of excellence that could lead to an upset in Athens. Unfortunately, they also showed inconsistencies that could be their demise.
Book has thrown for 553 yards in the two contests. Particularly against New Mexico, he performed like the man who led the Irish to their first ever playoff appearance. However he also showed his big downside, second guessing himself on many plays that ended on short scampers or sacks. Saturday night Book won’t have mid major recruits bearing down on him in the pocket, some of the best pass rushers in the country will be bringing the pressure. On the defensive side of the ball, the run defense has been suspect. Both the Cardinals and the Lobos found success in the trenches. If lowly teams like Louisville and New Mexico can tear the Irish apart on the ground, imagine what Georgia running back DeAndre Swift can do.
The Georgia game will be very telling of Brian Kelly’s 2019 team. There is a very real chance that the Bulldogs feast on the ground and run away with this one easily. If they clean up the offense and tighten up the front seven, they may conjure up enough magic to win. The outcome is far from clear, but it is obvious that Head Coach Brian Kelly has a lot to prove.